For years, the Missouri (and national [1]) GOP has been crying voter fraud [2] and the press simply repeat their talking points in their stories. By doing so, the press has been used like a dishcloth in order to help build the case for regressive election changes that would make it harder for voters – especially poor, disabled, minority, and elderly voters – to vote [3]. (Most of these folks aren’t Republican voters, so Republicans would prefer they not vote.)
For those of you who haven’t figured it out yet, here’s a refresher how the national GOP election reform [4] spin strategy cycle works:
Republicans continually cry, “voter fraud is rampant! [5]” --> Media outlets continually repeat and print this quote --> Public continually hears and reads “voter fraud is rampant!" from the press and GOP --> Perception of voter fraud is perpetuated, undermining voter confidence --> Republicans call for regressive election reforms, such as photo ID legislation, to address people’s lack of confidence in elections due to “rampant voter fraud”
Take, for example, Rosenbaum’s article today in the Columbia Daily Tribune
on this year’s GOP attempt to pass another unconstitutional photo ID bill: “Changes favor photo ID bill, lawmaker says; Voters might decide proposed election rule [6].”
Despite these facts [7] in
Missouri,
2000 election – no voter impersonation fraud
“Certain eligible but inactive voters were unable to vote in the November 2000 election.” ~Department of Justice, St. Louis City consent decree, 2002
2002 election – no voter impersonation fraud
"I commend the local authorities for their
work in conducting an election that was free of fraud…” ~Secretary of State
Matt Blunt, press release [8], 11/21/02
2004 election – no voter
impersonation fraud
“.Nor has
the United States shown that any voter fraud has occurred.” ~US District Court
opinion, 4/13/07
2006 election – no voter
impersonation fraud
“As in previous elections, the
absence of reports of voting impersonation or voting fraud in the 2006 election
in Missouri was notable.” ~Secretary of State Robin Carnahan post-election
report [9], Winter 2007
CDT’s Rosenbaum still gratuitously prints:
...Republicans say the bill would stamp out voter fraud that they say has been prevalent over the last few years...
"I continue to think that a photo ID would be a solution to blatant fraud that was attempted by ACORN in Kansas City and St. Louis," Scott said…
…But Scott said his legislation has a popular appeal. "You can talk to people on the street and ask if it’s a good idea to have a photo ID to vote," Scott said. "I can just go to my constituents and ask them."
To paraphrase US Attorney Catherine Hanaway, "What part of no [12] voter fraud don't you understand?"
But the GOP spin strategy cycle continues. Talk about Groundhog's Day. [13]
OK, so it is not the job of the press to protect our citizens' right to vote. But it is the job of the press to be responsible, pursue and report facts, and serve as a source of truth for our citizens.
PS – Note to Rosenbaum – requiring a specific type of government issued photo ID of eligible, registered voters on Election Day in order to vote would not address voter registration processes. See Missouri Election Law [14].